not permit that to the poorer sort who entertain'd the fear of a War with more reluctancy than Tyranny any occasion should be offer'd or any temptations to new designs Afterwards other Ambassadours arriv'd who declar'd their King would recede from his Crown and lay down his Arms onely capitulating for a restitution to himself to his Friends and Allies of their Moneys and Estates to support their banishment Now several inclining to this motion and Collatinus favouring the request Brutus a person of a fierce and passionate nature rush'd into the Forum there proclaiming his fellow-Consul to be a Traitour in granting Subsidies to Tyranny and Ammunition for a War when 't were cruelty to relieve the necessities of their flight This caus'd an Assembly of the Citizens amongst whom the first that spake was Gaius Minutius a private man who advis'd Brutus and persuaded the Romans to take care that those Goods remaining in their hands might be employ'd against the Tyrants rather than being remitted to the Tyrants be return'd against themselves Yet however 't was the Romans opinion that whilst they enjoy'd the liberty they had fought for not to reject Articles of Peace for the sakes of their Goods but to throw them out after them This regard of the Goods was the least part of Tarquin's design yet the demand sounded the humours of the people and became a preparatory to a Conspiracy which the Ambassadours endeavour'd through the delay of their return under pretence of selling some of the Goods and reserving others to be sent away till such time as they corrupted two of the eminentest Families in Rome three Senatours of the Aquilian and two of the Vitellian Family all of them by the Mother's side being Nephews to Collatinus besides Brutus had a peculiar alliance to the Vitellians from his marriage with their Sister by whom he had several Children whereof two the Vitellians whom nearness of bloud and education had endear'd each to other decoy'd into an association of their Treason assuring them withall should they interess themselves in Tarquin's Family and the Kings Party they would be freed from the dotage and austerity of their Father whose irreconcilement to offenders they term'd austerity and his dotage was a pretext and plea to the Tyrants for his security which occasioned the continuance of that sirname When upon these inducements the Youths came to discourse the Aquilians all thought it convenient to oblige themselves in a solemn and dreadfull Oath with the ceremony of drinking the bloud of a murther'd man and touching his entrails To which design they resorted to the habitation of the Aquilians where was an House allotted for this transaction as happen'd darksome and desolate for the domestick Vindicius made no appearance but there absconded himself not out of design or any intelligence of the affair but accidentally being within and seeing with how much haste and concern they came in was afraid to be discover'd but plac'd himself behind a Chest so as he might observe their actions and over-hear their debates The result was to kill the Consuls and they wrote Letters to Tarquin advertising the same and entrusted them in the hands of the Ambassadours lodging then at the Aquilians and were present at the Consult Upon their departure thence Vindicius crept out of his obscurity but not understanding how to manage the business was at a stand for to arraign the Sons before the Father Brutus or the Nephews to the Uncle Collatinus seem'd equally as 't was indeed a scene of horrour yet knew no private Roman to whom he could entrust secrets of such importance and yet could not suffer to be buried in silence what his conscience engag'd him to reveal and therefore address'd himself to Valerius the generosity of the man and civility inviting thereto being a person to whom the needy had easie access and never shut his Gates against the petitions or the indigences of a low estate but when Vindicius had made a total discovery to him his Brother Marcus and his own Wife being present at the relation Valerius was struck with amazement and by no means would dismiss the Discoverer but confin'd him to his own House and plac'd his Wife as a guard to the Gatessending his Brother in the interim to beset the King's Palace and to seize if possible their Letters and secure the domesticks whilst he with his constant attendance of Clients and Friends and a great retinue of Servants repair'd to the House of the Aquilians who were absent from home and forcing an entrance through the Gates happen'd upon the Letters then lying in the Lodgings of the Ambassadours whilst things were in this motion the Aquilians made an hasty return and mustering themselves about the Gate endeavour'd a recovery of the Letters The other Party made a resistance who casting their Gowns about their Necks and using violence one to the other at length hurried them with great difficulty through the Streets into the Forum The like engagement happen'd about the King's Palace where Marcus seiz'd some other Letters design'd to be convey'd away in the Goods and laying hands on what Servants his industry could find drag'd them also into the Forum When the Consuls had quieted the tumult Vindicius was brought out by the orders of Valerius and the Accusation read the Letters were opened to which the Traitours could make no Plea Most stood mute and dejected as sensible of the Villany yet some to ingratiate themselves with Brutus mention'd Banishment and the tears of Collatinus attended with Valerius's silence gave some hopes of mercy But Brutus calling his two Sons by their names Canst thou said he O Titus nor thou Valerius make no defence against the Indictment the question being thrice propos'd and no return made to Brutus he turn'd himself to the Lictors and cry'd What remains is your duty The Lictors presently seiz'd the Youths and stripping them of their Garments bound their hands behind them and tore their Bodies with scourges which seem'd too tragical a Scene to be gaz'd upon yet 't is observable Brutus made it the object of his choice and would not suffer the least glance of pity to soften and smooth his wonted rigour and austerity but resolutely made his eyes attend the execution even whilst the Lictors extending them on the ground with an Ax cut off their Heads then he departed committing the rest to the judgment of his Collegue This was an action equally as capable of commendation as reproof for either the greatness of his vertue rais'd him above the impressions of sorrow or the extravagancy of his misery took away all sense of it but neither seem'd common or the result of his humanity but either proceeded from a divine efficacy or a brutish stupidity yet 't is more reasonable we award it to his honour lest through the weakness of the Judge his vertue should hazard a disrepute for in the Romans opinion Brutus labour'd more
Touroude de Vandrebanc fe PLUTARCHS LIVES Translated From the GREEK BY SEVERAL HANDS To which is prefixt the LIFE of PLUTARCH The First Volume LONDON Printed for Jacob Tonson at the Sign of the Judges-head in Chancery-lane near Fleet-street 1683. MANUS IUSTA NARDUS Charles Lord Maynard TO HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF Ormond c. My Lord LVcretius endeavouring to prove from the principles of his Philosophy that the world had a casual beginning from the concourse of Atomes and that Men as well as the rest of Animals were produc'd from the vital heat and moisture of their Mother Earth from the same principles is bound to answer this objection why Men are not daily form'd after the same manner which he tells us is because the kindly warmth and procreative faculty of the ground is now worn out The Sun is a disabled Lover and the Earth is past her teeming time Though Religion has inform'd us better of our Origine yet it appears plainly that not only the Bodies but the Souls of Men have decreas'd from the vigour of the first Ages that we are not more short of the stature and strength of those gygantick Heroes than we are of their understanding and their wit To let pass those happy Patriarchs who were striplings at fourscore and had afterwards seven or eight hundred years before them to beget Sons and Daughters and to consider Man in reference only to his mind and that no higher than the Age of Socrates How vast a difference is there betwixt the productions of those Souls and these of ours How much better Plato Aristotle and the rest of the Philosophers understood nature Thucydides and Herodotus adorn'd History Sophocles Eurypides and Menander advanc'd Poetry than those Dwarfs of Wit and Learning who succeeded them in after times That Age was most Famous amongst the Greeks which ended with the death of Alexander amongst the Romans Learning seem'd again to revive and flourish in the Century which produc'd Cicero Varro Salust Livy Lucretius and Virgil And after a short interval of years wherein Nature seem'd to take a breathing time for a second birth there sprung up under the Vespasians and those excellent Princes who succeeded them a race of memorable Wits such as were the two Plinies Tacitus and Suetonius and as if Greece was emulous of the Roman learning under the same favourable Constellation was born the famous Philosopher and Historian Plutarch Then whom Anquity has never produc'd a Man more generally knowing or more vertuous and no succeeding Age has equall'd him His Lives both in his own esteem and that of others accounted the Noblest of his Works have been long since render'd into English But as that Translation was only from the French so it suffer'd this double disadvantage first that it was but a Copy of a Copy and that too but lamely taken from the Greek Original Secondly that the English Language was then unpolish'd and far from the perfection which it has since attain'd So that the first Version is not only ungrammatical and ungraceful but in many places almost unintelligible For which reasons and least so useful a piece of History shou'd lie oppress'd under the rubbish of Antiquated words some ingenious and learned Gentlemen have undertaken this Task And what wou'd have been the labour of one Mans Life will by the several endeavours of many be now accomplish'd in the compass of a year How far they have succeeded in this laudable attempt to me it belongs not to determine who am too much a party to be a Judge But I have the honour to be Commission'd from the Translators of this Volum to inscribe their labours and my own with all humility to your Graces Name and Patronage And never was any Man more ambitious of an employment of which he was so little worthy Fortune has at last gratify'd that earnest desire I have always had to shew my devotion to your Grace though I despair of paying you my acknowledgments And of all other opportunities I have happen'd on the most favourable to my self who having never been able to produce any thing of my own which cou'd be worthy of your view am supply'd by the assistance of my friends and honour'd with the presentation of their labours The Author they have Translated has been long familiar to you Who have been conversant in all sorts of History both Ancient and Modern and have form'd the Idea of your most Noble Life from the instructions and Examples contain'd in them both in the management of publick affairs and in the private Offices of vertue in the enjoyment of your better fortune and sustaining of your worse in habituating your self to an easie greatness in repelling your Enemies in succouring your Friends and in all traverses of fortune in every colour of your Life maintaining an inviolable fidelity to your Soveraign T is long since that I have learn'd to forget the art of praising but here the heart dictates to the pen and I appeal to your Enemies if so much generosity and good nature can have left you any whether they are not conscious to themselves that I have not flatter'd T is an Age indeed which is only fit for Satyr and the sharpest I have shall never be wanting to launce its Villanies and its ingratitude to the Government There are few Men in it who are capable of supporting the weight of a just and deserv'd commendation But amongst those few there must always stand excepted the Illustrious Names of Ormond and of Ossory A Father and a Son only Worthy of each other Never was one Soul more fully infus'd into anothers breast Never was so strong an impression made of vertue as that of your Graces into him But though the stamp was deep the subject which receiv'd it was of too fine a composition to be durable Were not priority of time and nature in the case it might have been doubted which of you had been most excellent But Heaven snatch'd away the Copy to make the Original more precious I dare trust my self no farther on this subject for after years of mourning my sorrow is yet so green upon me that I am ready to tax Providence for the loss of that Heroick Son Three Nations had a general concernment in his Death but I had one so very particular that all my hopes are almost dead with him and I have lost so much that I am past the danger of a second Shipwreck But he sleeps with an unenvy'd commendation And has left your Grace the sad Legacy of all those Glories which he deriv'd from you An accession which you wanted not who were so rich before in your own vertues and that high reputation which is the product of them A long descent of Noble Ancestors was not necessary to have made you great But Heaven threw it in as over-plus when you were born What you have done and suffer'd for two Royal Masters has been enough to render you Illustrious so that
the King Theseus being thus set at liberty return'd to Athens where his Friends were not yet wholly suppress'd and dedicated to Hercules all the Temples which the City had erected to himself changing their Names from Thesea to Heraclea four only excepted as Philochorus writes And now designing to preside in the Commonwealth and manage the State as before he soon found himself fall'n into a Nest of Faction and Sedition he discover'd that those who of a long time had hated him had now added to their hatred of his Person a contempt of his Authority and seeing the minds of the People so generally corrupted that instead of obeying with silence and submission what-ever was commanded they expected to be flatter'd and sooth'd into their duty he had some thoughts to have reduc'd them by force but by the prevalence of the Faction and continual Disorders he was deterr'd from the Attempt And at last despairing of any good success of his Affairs in Athens he sent away his Children privately to Eubaea commending them to the care of Elephenor the Son of Chalcodus and he himself having solemnly curs'd the People of Athens in the Village of Gargettus in which there yet remains the Place call'd Araterion or the Place of Cursing sail'd to Scyrus where he had Lands left him by his Father and as he perswaded himself a great Friendship with all those of the Island Lycomedes was then King of Scyrus Theseus therefore addressed himself to him and desir'd to have his Lands put into his possession as designing to settle and to dwell there tho' others say that he came to beg his assistance against the Athenians But Lycomedes being either jealous of the Glory of so great a Man or to gratifie Menestheus having led him up to the highest Cliff of the Island on pretence of showing him from thence the Lands that he desir'd threw him headlong down from the Rock and kill'd him But others say he fell down of himself by an unfortunate slip of his Foot as he was walking there after Supper according to his usual custom At that time there was no notice taken nor were any concern'd for his Death but Menestheus quietly possess'd himself of the Kingdom of Athens His Sons were brought up in a private condition and accompani'd Elephenor to the Trojan War but after the decease of Menestheus who dy'd in the same Expedition they return'd to Athens and recover'd the Government to themselves But in succeeding Ages there were several remarkable Accidents that mov'd the Athenians to honour Theseus as a demy-God For in the Battel which was fought at Marathon against the Medes many of the Souldiers saw an Apparition of Theseus all in Arms fighting in the head of them and rushing on upon the Barbarians And after the Median War Phaedo being Archon of Athens the Athenians consulting the Oracle at Delphos were commanded to gather together the Bones of Theseus and laying 'em in some honourable Place keep them as sacred in the City But it was very difficult to recover these Reliques or so much as to find out the Place where they lay by reason of the inhospitable and savage temper of the barbarous People that inhabited the Island But afterwards when Cimon took the Island as is related in his Life and had a great desire to find out the Place where Theseus was buried he by chance spy'd an Eagle upon a rising ground pecking it with her Beak and tearing up the Earth with her Talons when on the sudden it came into his mind as it were by some divine Inspiration to dig there and search for the Bones of Theseus There was found in that Place a Coffin of a Man of more than ordinary size and the head of a brass Lance and a Sword lying by it all which he took aboard his Gally and brought with him to Athens The Athenians having notice of this went out to meet and receive the Reliques of this great Man in a splendid and pompous Procession and did sacrifice to them and were as much transported as if Theseus himself was return'd alive to their City After that they interr'd them in the middle of the City near the Place where the Youth perform their Wrestlings and other Exercises of Body His Tomb is a Sanctuary and Refuge for Slaves and all those of mean condition that fly from the Persecution of Men in Power in memory that Theseus while he lived was an Assister and Protector of the Distress'd and never refus'd the Petitions of the Afflicted that fled to him for Succour and Defence The chief and most solemn Sacrifice which they celebrate to him is kept on the 8th day of October in which he return'd with the Athenian young Men from Crete Besides which they sacrifice to him on the 8th day of every Month either because he return'd from Traezene the 8th day of June as Diodorus the Geographer writes or else thinking that number of all others to be most proper to him because he was reputed to be born of Neptune for they sacrifice to Neptune on the 8th day of every Month for the Number Eight being the first Cube of an even Number and the double of the first Square seemed to be an Emblem of the stedfast and immoveable Power of this God who from thence has the Names of Asphalius and Gaeiochus that is the Establisher and Stayer of the Earth ROMULUS M Burghers delin et sculp THE LIFE OF ROMULUS English'd from the Greek By Mr. James Smalwood Fel. of Trin. Col. in Cambridge Volume I. BY whom and for what reason the City of Rome a Name so great in glory and famous in the mouths of all men was so first call'd Authors do not agree Some are of opinion that the Pelasgians after they had over-run the greater part of the habitable World and subdued most Nations fix'd themselves here and from their own great strength in War which is the signification of the word in Greek call'd the City Rome Others that after the taking of Troy some few that escap'd the Enemy fortunately meeting with Shipping put to Sea and being driven upon the Coasts of Thuscany came to an Anchor off from the mouth of the River Tyber where their Women being miserably tir'd and harassâ—d by the toilsomness of the Voyage it was propos'd by one whose Name was Roma a Person of the best Quality and seemingly of the best Understanding too amongst em to burn the Ships Which being done the Men at first were very much offended at it but afterwards of necessity seating themselves near Palatium where things in a short while succeeded far better than they could hope in that they found the Countrey very good and the People courteous they not only did the Lady Roma all other great Honours but they added this also of calling the City they had built after her Name From this they say came that Custom at Rome for Women to salute their Kinfmen and Husbands with Kisses because
nor approving of it then indeed he seem'd to put a great Affront upon them whereupon he suddenly disappearing a short while after the Senate fell under shrewd Suspicions and Calumnies He disappear'd on the Nones of July as they now call the month which was then Quintilis leaving nothing of certainty to be related of his Death only the time as you hear for there are now upon that day many Ceremonies perform'd in resemblance of that Misfortune Neither is this uncertainty to be thought strange seeing the manner of the Death of Scipio Africanus who died at his own home after Supper is neither much credited nor disprov'd for some say he died easily suddenly as it were of his own accord being naturally a sickly Man others that he poyson'd himself others again that his Enemies breaking in upon him in the night stifled him Scipio too when he was dead lay open to be seen of all and indeed his Body gave some suspicion and a reasonable discovery of the Fact but of Romulus when he vanish'd was neither the least part of his Body or rag of his Cloaths to be seen So that some fancied the Senators having fallen upon him cut his Body into pieces and each took a part away in his bosom others think his disappearance was neither in the Temple of Vulcan nor with the Senators only by but that it happen'd as he was haranguing the People without the City near a Place call'd the Goats Marsh on the sudden most wonderful Disorders and Alterations beyond expression rose in the Air for the face of the Sun was darkned and the day was turn'd into an unquiet and turbulent night made up of terrible Thunderings and boisterous Winds raising Tempests from all Quarters which scattered the Rabble and made them fly but the Senators kept close together The Tempest being over and the light breaking out when the People gather'd again they misss'd and enquir'd for their King but the Senators would not let them search or busie themselves about the Matter but commanded them to honour and worship Romulus as one taken up to the Gods and about to be to them of a good Prince now a propitious God The Multitude hearing this went away rejoycing and worshipping him in hopes of good things from him but there were some who canvassing the Matter more severely and rigorously accus'd and aspers'd the Patricians as Men that persuaded the People to believe ridiculous Tales when they themselves were the Murderers of the King Things being in this disorder one they say of the Patricians of a noble Family and most honest Conversation and withal a most faithful and familiar Friend of Romulus himself who came with him from Alba Julius Proculus by Name stepping into the Company and taking a most sacred Oath protested before them all that Romulus appear'd to and met him traveling on the Road comelier and fairer than ever dress'd in shining and flaming Armour and he being affrighted at the Apparition said Vpon what Occasion or Resentments O King did you leave us here liable to most unjust and wicked Surmises and the whole City destitute in most bitter Sorrow And that he made Answer It pleas'd the Gods O Proculus we should remain so long a time amongst Men as we did and having built a City the greatest in the World both in Empire and Glory we should again return to Heaven but farewel and tell the Romans that by the exercise of Temperance and Fortitude they shall far exceed all humane Power and we will be to you the propitious God Quirinus This seem'd very credible to the Romans both upon the Honesty and Oath of him that spoke it and a certain divine Passion like an Enthusiasm seized on all Men for no body contradicted it but laying aside all Jealousies and Detractions they prayed to Quirinus and saluted him God This is like some of the Graecian Fables of Aristeas the Proconnesian and Cleomedes the Astypalaeian for they say Aristeas died in a Fuller's Work-house and his Friends coming to him his Body vanish'd and that some presently after coming a Journey said they met him travelling towards Croton And that Cleomedes being an extraordinary strong and gygantic Man and withal crazed and mad committed many desperate Freaks At last in a certain School-house striking a Pillar that sustain'd the Roof with his Fist broke it in the middle so the House fell and destroyed the Children in it and being pursued he fled into a great Chest and shutting to the Lid held it so fast that many Men with all their strength could not force it open afterwards breaking the Chest to pieces they found no Man in it alive or dead at which being astonish'd they sent to consult the Oracle at Delphi to whom the Prophetess made this Answer Of all the Heroes Cleomede is last They say too the Body of Alomeno as she was carrying to her Grave vanish'd and a Stone was found lying on the Bier And many such Improbabilities do your fabulous Writers relate deifying Creatures naturally mortal tho' altogether to disown a divine Power is an unholy and disingenuous thing so again to mix Heaven and Earth is as ridiculous therefore we must reject such Vanities being assur'd that according to Pindar All humane Bodies yield to Deaths decree The Soul survives to all eternity For that alone is deriv'd from the Gods thence it comes and thither it returns not with the Body but when it is most free and separated from it and is altogether pure and clean and disengag'd from the flesh for the dry Soul as Heraclitus phrases it is best which flies out of the Body as Lightning breaks from a Cloud but that which is clogg'd and incumber'd with the Body is like a gross and cloudy Vapour hard to be kindled and mount on high We must not therefore contrary to Nature send the Bodies too of good Men to Heaven but again we must really believe that according to a divine Nature and Justice their vertuous Souls are translated out of Men into Heroes out of Heroes into demi-Gods out of demi-Gods if they are as by expiation perfectly purg'd and sanctified and disburden'd of all Passions attending Mortality they are not as in any humane Polity alter'd but really and according to right Reason chang'd and translated into Gods receiving the greatest and most blessed perfection Romulus his sirname Quirinus some say signifies as much as Mars or Warlike others that he was so call'd because the Citizens were call'd Quirites others because the Ancients call'd a Dart or Spear Quiris for the Statue of Juno placed on a Spear was call'd Quiritis and the Dart in the King's Palace was call'd Mars and those that behav'd themselves valiantly in War were usually presented with a Dart and that therefore Romulus being a martial God or a God of Darts was call'd Quirinus and there is a Temple built to his Honour on a Mount call'd from him Quirinalis The day he vanish'd on
disgust to the people because after Brutus whom they esteem'd as Patriot of their Liberty had not presum'd to Lord it without a Collegue but still assum'd one and then another to him in his Commission but Valerius said they carrying all things by his power seem'd not a Successour to Brutus having no deference to the Consulship but an aim to Tarquin's Tyranny and notwithstanding his verbal Harangues to Brutus's memory yet when he was attended with all the Rods and Axes and came from an House as stately as that he demolish'd of the Kings those actions shew'd him an imitatour of Tarquin besides his dwelling House call'd Velia was more magnificent which hanging over the Forum overlook'd all transactions there the access to it was hard and the return from it difficult but to see him come down was a stately prospect and equall'd the majesty of a King But Valerius shew'd how much it imported men in power and great Offices to give admittance to truth before flattery for upon his Friends remonstrances that he displeas'd the people contended not neither resented it but that very night sending for Carpenters pulled down his House and levell'd it with the ground so that in the morning the people flocking thither saw the ruines they lov'd and admir'd the generosity of the man and deplor'd the Consul's loss who wanting an House was forc'd to seek a foreign habitation and wish'd a repair of so much beauty and magnificence as to one to whom malice had unjustly procur'd the ruine His Friends receiv'd him till the place the people gave him was furnish'd with an House though less stately than his own where now stands the Temple call'd Vicus Publicus He resolv'd to render the Government as well as himself instead of terrible familiar and pleasant to the people and parted the Axes from the Rods and always upon his entrance into the Assembly with an humble submission vail'd them to the people as restoring thereby the excellency of a Common-wealth and this the Consuls observe to this day But the humility of the man which the people thought real was but a device to abate their envy by this moderation for as much as he detracted from his liberty so much he advanc'd in his power the people still submitting with satisfaction which they express'd by calling him Poplicola i. e. a popular man which name had the preheminence of the rest and therefore in the sequel of this History we shall use no other He gave free leave to any to sue for the Consulship but before the admittance of a Collegue mistrusting futurity lest the emulation or the ignorance of him should cross his designs by his own authority enacted some good and noble Constitutions First he supply'd the vacancies of the Senatours which either Tarquin long before put to death or the War lately out off those that were registred they write amounted to one hundred threescore and four afterwards he made several Laws which added much to the people's liberty as one granting offenders the liberty of appealing to the people from the censure of the Consuls a second that made it death to usurp the magistracy without the peoples consent a third for the relief of poor Citizens which taking off their taxes encourag'd their labours another against disobedience to the Consuls which was no less popular than the rest and rather to the benefit of the Commonalty than to the advantage of the Nobles for it impos'd upon disloyalty the penalty of ten Oxen and two Sheep the price of a Sheep was ten Oboli of an Ox an hundred For the use of Money was then infrequent amongst the Romans their wealth consisting in a plenty of Cattel so that afterwards their Estates were call'd Peculia from Pecus i. e. Cattel and had upon their ancient Money engrav'd an Ox a Sheep or an Hog and hence sirnam'd their Sons Suilli Bubulci or Caprarii they calling Caprae Goats and Porci Hoggs These Laws shewed the evenness and the popularity of the giver yet amidst this moderation he instituted one excessive punishment for he made it lawfull without accusation to take away any man's life that aspir'd to a Tyranny and acquitted the executioner if he produc'd evidences of the crime for though 't was not probable whose designs were so great to escape all notice yet because 't was possible his power might prevent judgment which the usurpation it self would then take off gave a licence to any to prevent the Vsurper He was honour'd likewise for the Law touching the Treasury and because necessity engag'd the Citizens out of their Estates to contribute to the maintenance of Wars and he being unwilling himself to be concern'd in the care of it or to permit his Friends or indeed that the publick Money should be entrusted into private hands allotted the Temple of Saturn for the Treasury in which to this day they reposite the Tribute-money and granted the people the liberty of chusing two young men as Questors i. e. Treasurers and the first were P. Veturius and Minucius Marcus there being a great Sum collected for they assess'd one hundred and thirty thousand excusing Orphans and Widows from the payment Affairs standing in this posture he admitted Lucretius the Father of Lucretia as his Collegue and gave him the precedence in the Government by resigning up the Fasces i. e. Rods to him as due to his years which humble observance to age was deriv'd to posterity But within a few days Lucretius dy'd and Marcus Horatius succeeded in that honour and continu'd the remaining part of the year Now whilst Tarquin was making preparations in Tuscany for a second War against the Romans 't is said a portentous accident fell out When Tarquin was King and having not compleated the buildings of the Capitol he designing whether from a Divine impulse or his own pleasure to erect an earthen Chariot upon the top entrusted the workmanship to Tuscans of the City Veies but soon after was oblig'd to retire from his Kingdom The Work thus model'd the Tuscans set in a Furnace but the Clay shew'd not those passive qualities which usually attend its nature to subside and be condens'd upon the exhalations of the moisture but rose up and swell'd to that bulk that being consolidated and firm notwithstanding the removal of the head and breaking down the walls of the Furnace it could not be taken out without much difficulty The wise men look'd upon this as a Divine prognostick of success and power to those that should enjoy it and the Tuscans resolv'd not to deliver it to the Romans who demanded it but answer'd that it rather belong'd to Tarquin than to those that forc'd him into exile A few days after there happen'd an Horse-race with the usual shews and solemnities the Chariotier with his Crown on his head softly driving his victorious Chariot out of the ring the Horses upon no apparent occasion affrighted but either out
him but if your mind be otherwise you must make use of others to intercede for you for it is not the national custom here for the King to give audience to any one that doth not fall down before him Themistocles hearing this replied Artabanus I that come hither to encrease the power and glory of the King will not onely submit my self to his Laws since it hath pleased God to raise the Persian Empire to this greatness but will also cause many more to be worshippers and adorers of the King Let not this therefore be an impediment why I should not communicate to his Majesty what I have to impart Artabanus asking him who must we tell him that you are for you seem to be no ordinary person Themistocles answered no man must be informed of this before the King himself Thus Phanias relates it to which Eratosthenes in his Treatise of Riches adds that by the means of a Woman of Eretria who was kept by Artabanus he was brought acquainted with him and obtained this favour from him When he was introduced to the King and had paid his due reverence to him he stood silent till Xerxes commanding the Interpreter to ask him who he was he replied I am Themistocles the Athenian banished and persecuted by the Greeks I flie to thee for refuge mighty Monarch the evils that I have done to the Persians are easily to be forgiven in consideration of the many atchievements accomplished for them when I hindred the Grecians from pursuing the Medes after the fatal Battels of Salamis and Plataea when having freed my Country and placed the Greeks in safety my ambition led me on to greater enterprises in which being successfull I gratified the far extended Persian Empire and performed services acceptable to the greatest Prince on earth since which all things having conspired to augment my present calamities sutable to such a condition I come hither hoping to receive mercy from a gracious reconciled Sovereign who hath laid aside his anger and is no longer mindfull of former evils humbly imploring you that taking the Greeks for witnesses of the services I have done for Persia you will make use of this occasion to shew the world the nobleness of your vertue rather than to fulfill your wrath or satisfie your indignation hereby you will preserve an humble suppliant if otherwise you destroy a servant of the Persians and a publick enemy of the Greeks Besides this he related the manner of the Vision which he saw at Nicogenes's House and what was directed him by the Oracle of Dodona where Jupiter commanded him to go to him that had a name like his by which he understood that he was sent from Jupiter to Xerxes seeing that they had both the name of mighty Kings and he knew no other great sacred powers but Jupiter and the Persian Emperour The King heard him attentively and though he admired his understanding and courage gave him no answer at that time but when he was with his intimate Friends he rejoyced in his great good fortune and esteemed himself very happy in this and prayed to his God Arimanius that all his enemies might be ever of the same mind with the Greeks to provoke abuse and expell the bravest men amongst them Then he sacrificed to the Gods and presently fell to drinking and was so well pleased that in the night in the middle of his sleep he cried out for joy three times I have Themistocles the Athenian In the morning Xerxes calling together the chief of his Court had Themistocles brought before him who expected no good would come of it especially when he saw the Guards were fiercely set against him as soon as they knew his name and gave him ill language and as he came forward towards the King who was set down and the rest kept silence passing by Roxanes a Commander of a thousand men he heard him sigh and whisper softly to him without stirring out of his place You subtile Greek Serpent the Kings good Genius hath brought thee hither yet when he came into the presence and fell down the King saluted him and spake to him kindly telling him he was now indebted to him two hundred Talents for it was just and reasonable that he should receive the reward which was proposed to whosoever should bring Themistocles and promising much more and encouraging him he commanded him to speak freely what he would concerning the affairs of Greece Themistocles replied that a man's Discourse was like to a rich Persian Carpet variously wrought and figured the beautifull Images and proper Figures of which are best represented when they are clearly and fairly opened but when they are contracted and folded up they are obscured and lost and therefore he desired time to learn the language perfectly in which he was to express his mind and unfold his secret services The King being pleased with the comparison and bidding him take what time he would he desired a year in which time having learnt the Persian Language sufficiently he spake with the King by himself without the help of an Interpreter and those who were at a distance thought that he discoursed onely about the affairs of Greece but there happening at the same time great alterations at Court and removals of the King's Favourites he drew upon himself the envy of the great ones who imagined that he who had this great liberty might take the boldness to speak many things concerning them for the favours shewn to other Strangers were nothing in comparison of the honours conferred on him the King inviting him to partake of his own pastimes and recreations both at home and abroad carrying him with him a-hunting and made him his intimate so far that he permitted him not onely to come into the presence of the Queen Mother but also to wait upon her often and converse familiarly with her And besides this he heard the Discourses of the Magicians by the King 's especial command and was instructed in the secret Philosophy and Magick of the Persians When Demaratus the Lacedemonian being ordered by the King to ask whatsoever he pleased and it should immediately be granted him desired the Royal Diademe and that being lifted up on high he might make his publick entrance and be carried in state through the City of Sardis with the Imperial Crown of Persia upon his head after the manner of Kings Mithropaustes Nephew to Xerxes taking him by the hand told him that he had no Brains for the Royal Diademe to cover and if Jupiter should give him his Lightning and Thunder he would be ne'er the more Jupiter for that the King also repulsed him with scorn and anger resolving never to be reconciled to him but to be inexorable to all supplications on his behalf yet Themistocles pacified him and prevailed with him to forgive him and it is reported that the succeeding Kings in whose Reigns there was a greater communication between the Greeks and Persians than formerly when
they invited any considerable Grecian into their service to encourage him they would signifie to him by Letters that he should be as great with them as Themistocles was with Xerxes They relate also how Themistocles when he was in great prosperity and courted by many seeing himself splendidly served at his Table he turned to his Children and said Children we had been undone if we had not been undone Most Writers say that he had three Cities given him Magnesia Myus and Lampsacus to maintain him in Bread Meat and Wine Neanthes of Cyzicus and Phanias add two more the City of Percotes to provide him with Clothes and Palaescepsis with Bedding and Furniture for his House As he went down towards the Sea side to provide against the attempts and practices of the Greeks a Persian whose name was Epixyes Governour of the upper Phrygia laid wait to kill him having for that purpose provided a long time before a crew of Pisidian murtherers who were to set upon him when he came to reside in a City that is called Lyons-head but Themistocles sleeping in the middle of the day the Mother of the Gods appeared to him in a Dream and said unto him Themistocles never come at the Lyon's-head for fear you fall into the Lyon's Jaws for this advice I expect that your Daughter Mnesiptolema should be my servant Themistocles was much astonished and when he had poured forth his prayers and made his vows to the Goddess he left the great Road and taking a compass about went another way changing his intended station to avoid that place and at night took up his rest in the Fields but one of the Sumpter-horses which carried part of the Furniture for his Tent having fallen that day into a River his Servants spread out the Tapestry which was wet and hanged it up to drie it in the mean time the Pisidians made towards them with their Swords drawn and not discerning exactly by the Moon what it was that was stretched out to be dried they thought it was the Tent of Themistocles and that they should find him resting himself within it but when they came nigh and lifted up the Hangings those who watched there fell upon them and took them Themistocles having escaped this great danger was in admiration of the goodness of the Goddess that appeared to him and in memory of it he built a Temple in the City of Magnesia which he dedicated to Cybele Dindymene Mother of the Gods wherein he consecrated and devoted his Daughter Mnesiptolema unto her service When he came to Sardis he visited the Temples of the Gods and observing at his leisure their Buildings Ornaments and the number of their Offerings he saw in the Temple of the Mother of the Gods the Statue of a Virgin in Brass two Cubits high called the Water-bringer or she that brought the Water back again into its right Chanel Themistocles had caused this to be made and set up when he was Surveyor of the Aquaeducts at Athens out of the Fines and Forfeitures of those whom he had discovered to have taken away the Water or to have turned it out of its due course by other Pipes fitted for their private use and whether he had some regret to see this fair Image in Captivity and the Statue of a Grecian Virgin kept Prisoner in Asia or whether he was desirous to let the Athenians see in what great credit he was with the King and what authority he had in all the Persian affairs he entred into discourse with the Governour of Lydia to persuade him to send this Statue back to Athens which so enraged the Persian Officer that he told him he would write the King word of it Themistocles being affrighted hereat got access to his Wives and Concubines whom he gained with money and by their means mitigated the fury of the Governour and afterwards carried himself more reservedly and circumspectly fearing the envy of the Persians and gave over travelling about Asia and lived quietly in his own House in Magnesia where for a long time he passed his days in great security as Theopompus writes being courted by all and presented with rich Gifts and honoured equally with the greatest persons in the Persian Empire the King at that time not minding his concerns with Greece being incessantly busied about the affairs of the upper Provinces But when Aegypt revolted being assisted by the Athenians and the Grecian Galleys roved about as far as Cyprus and Cilicia and Cimon had made himself master of the Seas the King turned his thoughts and bending his mind chiefly to resist the Grecians and to hinder their increasing power against him raised Forces sent out Commanders and dispatched Mâ—ssengers to Themistocles at Magnesia to put him in mind of his promise and to incense him and irritate him against the Greeks yet this did not increase his hatred nor exasperate him against the Athenians neither was he any ways elevated with the thoughts of the honour and powerfull command he was to have in this War but either imagining that this undertaking could not prosperously be carried on nor the King easily compass his designs the Greeks having at that time great Commanders and amongst them Cimon wonderfully successfull in the affairs of Greece or chiefly being ashamed to sully the glory of his former great actions and of his many Victories and Trophies he determined to put a conclusion to his days sutable to his former great deeds and to make an end agreeable to the whole course of his life he sacrificed to the Gods and invited his Friends and having kindly entertained them and shaked hands with them he drank Bulls Bloud as the general report goes but some say he took poison which dispatched him in a short time and ended his days in the City of Magnesia having lived sixty five years most of which he had spent in the State and in the Wars in governing of Countries and commanding of Armies The King being informed of the cause and manner of his death admired him more than ever and continued to shew kindness to his Friends and Relations Themistocles left three Sons by Archippa Daughter to Lysander of Alopece Archeptolis Polyeuctus and Cleophantus Plato the Philosopher mentions the latter as a most excellent Horseman but relates nothing else of him worthy of memory of his eldest Sons Neocles and Diocles Neocles died when he was young by the bite of a Horse and Diocles was adopted by his Grandfather Lysander to be his Heir He had many Daughters of which Mnesiptolema whom he had by a second Marriage was Wife to Archeptolis her Brother-in-law by another Mother Italia was married to Panthedes of the Island of Scio Sybaris to Nicomedes the Athenian After the death of Themistocles his Nephew Phrasicles set sail for Magnesia and married his Daughter Nicomachia receiving her from the hands of her Brothers and brought up her Sister Asia the youngest of all the Children The Magnesians possess the splendid Sepulchre
farther than to Tegea and Theseus and Peirithous being now out of danger having escap'd out of Peloponnesus made an agreement between themselves that he to whom the lot should fall should have Helen to his Wife but should be oblig'd to be ready with his assistance to procure another for his Friend The lot fell upon Theseus who convey'd her to Aphidnae not being yet marriageable and deliver'd her to one of his Allies callâ—d Aphidnus and having sent his Mother Aethra after to take care of her Education desir'd him to keep them so secretly that none might know where they were Which done to return the same service to his Friend Peirithous he accompani'd him in his Journey to Epirus in order to steal away the King of the Molossians Daughter This King his own Name being Aidoneus or Pluto call'd his Wife and his Daughter Proserpina and a great Dog which he kept Cerberus with whom he order'd all that came as Suitors to his Daughter to fight and promis'd her to him that should overcome the Beast But having been inform'd that the design of Peirithous his coming was not to court his Daughter but to force her away he caused them both to be seized and threw Peirithous to be torn in pieces by his Dog and clapt up Theseus into Prison and kept him in Chains About this time Menestheus the Son of Peteus who was great Grandson to Erectheus the first Man that is recorded to have affected Popularity and ingratiated himself with the Multitude stirr'd up and exasperated the most eminent Men of the City who had long born a secret grudge to Theseus and possest them with a belief that Theseus had taken from them their several little Kingdoms and Lordships that so having pent them all up in one City he might use them as his Subjects and Slaves He put also the meaner sort into no small Commotion by accusing them sharply that being deluded with a meer dream of Liberty tho' indeed they were depriv'd both of that and of their Countreys and their Temples instead of many good and gracious Kings of their own they had given themselves up to be lorded over by a New comer and a Stranger Whilst he was thus busi'd in infecting the minds of the Citizens the War that Castor and Pollux brought against Athens came very opportunely to further the Sedition he had been promoting and some say that he by his perswasions was wholly the cause of their invading the City At their first approach they committed no acts of Hostility but peaceably demanded their Sister Helen but the Athenians returning answer that they knew not where she was dispos'd of they prepar'd to assault the City when Academus by what means he came to the knowledge of it is uncertain discover'd to them that she was secretly kept at Aphidnae For which Reason he was both extreamly honour'd during his Life by Castor and Pollux and the Lacedaemonians when in after-times they made several Incursions into Attica and destroy'd all the Countrey round about spar'd the Academy for his sake But Dicaearchus writes that there were two Arcadians in the Army of Castor and Pollux the one callâ—d Echedemus and the other Marathus from the first that which is now call'd the Academy was then nam'd Echedemia and the Village Marathon had its Name from the other who according to the Oracle willingly offer'd up himself a Sacrifice for the prosperous success of the Army As soon as the Lacedaemonians were arriv'd at Aphidnae they first overcame their Enemies in a set Battel and then assaulted it and took the Town And here they say Alycus the Son of Sciron was slain on the Lacedaemonians side from whom a Place in Megara where he was buri'd is call'd Alycus to this day And Hereas writes that it was Theseus himself that kill'd him in witness of which he cites these Verses concerning Alycus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And Alycus on fair Aphidna 's Plain By Theseus in the Cause of Helen slain Tho' it is not at all probable that Theseus himself was there when both the City and his own Mother were taken Aphidnae being now won by Castor and Pollux and the whole City of Athens being in great Consternation Menestheus perswaded the People to open their Gates and receive them with all manner of Civility and Friendship who he told them design'd no violence or injury to any but Theseus who had first done them wrong but were Benefactors and Saviours to all Mankind beside And their behaviour to the conquer'd gave credit to what Menestheus promis'd for having made themselves absolute Masters of the Place they demanded no more than to be initiated in the Ceremonies of the Goddess Ceres since they were as nearly related to their City as Hercules was who had receiv'd the same Honour This their Desire they easily obtain'd and were adopted by Aphidnus as Hercules had been by Pylius They were honour'd also like Gods and were call'd by a new Name Anaces either from the cessation of the War or from the singular care they took that none should suffer any injury tho' there was so great an Army within the Walls of the City for the Phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies as much from whence it is likely that Kings were call'd Anactes Others say that from the appearance of their Star in the Heavens they were thus call'd for in the Attick Dialect this Name comes very near the words that signifie Above Some say that Aethra Theseus his Mother was here taken Prisoner and carri'd to Lacedaemonia and from thence went away with Helen to Troy alledging this Verse of Homer to prove that she waited upon Helen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aethra of Pittheus born and Clymene Others reject this Verse as none of Homers as they do likewise the whole Fable of Munychus who the Story says was the Son of Demophoon and Laodice and was brought up privately by Aethra at Troy But Istrus in the 13th Book of his Attic History gives us an account of Aethra different yet from all the rest That after the Fight wherein Achilles and Patroclus overcame Paris in Thessaly near the River Sperchius Hector sack'd and plunder'd the City of the Troezenians and took Aethra Prisoner there But this seems to be an absurd and groundless Tale. Now it happen'd that Hercules passing once by the Countrey of the Molossians was entertain'd in his way by Aidoneus the King who in Discourse accidentally fell upon a Relation of the Journey of Theseus and Peirithous into his Dominions and what they had design'd to do and what they were forc'd to suffer Hercules was extreamly concern'd for the inglorious Death of the one and the miserable condition of the other As for Peirithous he thought it but in vain to expostulate with the King concerning his being put to Death but Theseus being yet kept in Prison he begg'd to have him releas'd for his sake and obtainâ—d that Favour from